close to finished

USAGE SUMMARY

"close to finished" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to indicate that something is almost or nearly complete. For example, "I'm close to finished writing my report; I should have it done by the end of the day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

The museum, which is mostly underground, is close to finished and will open next year.

The New Yorker

However the ambassador painted a picture of a job close to finished, rather than just having begun with tentative steps.

The Economist

Once the drawing is finished, or close to finished, I realize that it's not even close to being mildly amusing.

The New Yorker

The Spaniards were not close to finished with their celebration that was so long in the making.

The New York Times - Sports

The only problem with "What's It All About?" was that, as so many autobiographies do, it ended before its subject himself was anywhere close to finished.

The New York Times - Books

One feature of this is the AutoContent Wizard, which supplies templates — "Managing Organizational Change" or "Communicating Bad News," say — that are so close to finished presentations you barely need to do more than add your company logo.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

I'm close to finishing a novel.

The Guardian - Books

_____ of the 13 runners came close to finishing.

The New York Times

Back in Bowland, Stephen Murphy was close to finishing his PhD.

The Guardian

None of the 13 runners came close to finishing.

The New York Times - Sports

Dyke said: "We are quite close to finishing that".

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "close to finished", ensure the context clearly indicates what is nearing completion. For instance, specify the project, task, or item, providing clarity and preventing ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "close to finished" if the project is still far from completion. Overstating progress can mislead stakeholders and undermine credibility. Use qualifiers like "making progress" or "advancing steadily" if the end is not truly near.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close to finished" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that something is in a state of near completion. Ludwig examples show it describing projects, tasks, and even personal states.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "close to finished" is a grammatically sound and commonly used adjectival phrase that indicates something is nearing completion. According to Ludwig AI, its usage is correct and effective in conveying the progress of a task or project. While the phrase is most frequently found in News & Media, it is also present in Formal & Business and Scientific contexts. To ensure clarity, specify what is "close to finished". For alternatives, you may consider "nearly complete" or "almost done".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly complete

Focuses on the state of being almost entirely done; emphasizes completeness.

virtually finished

Emphasizes that something is so close to being finished that it's as good as done.

practically complete

Similar to "virtually finished", highlighting the near-complete state.

almost done

A more informal way of saying something is nearing completion.

on the verge of completion

Highlights the imminence of finishing something.

nearing completion

Emphasizes the process of approaching the final stage.

approaching completion

Similar to "nearing completion" but slightly more formal.

on the point of completion

Very formal and emphasizes the exact moment of finishing.

drawing to a close

Indicates that something is coming to an end, often used for events or periods of time.

in the home stretch

An idiomatic expression referring to the final part of a race or project.

FAQs

What does "close to finished" mean?

The phrase "close to finished" means that something is nearly complete or almost done. It indicates that the remaining work is minimal.

How can I use "close to finished" in a sentence?

You can use "close to finished" to describe the status of a task or project. For example, "The building is close to finished, and we expect it to open next month."

What are some alternatives to "close to finished"?

Alternatives to "close to finished" include "nearly complete", "almost done", and "on the verge of completion".

Is there a difference between "close to finished" and "finished"?

"Close to finished" indicates that something is not entirely complete but is nearing completion, while "finished" means that something is entirely done and requires no further work.